SURFACE DEPOSITION FROM FLUID-FLOW IN A POROUS-MEDIUM

The changes to porosity and permeability resulting from surface deposi tion and early dissolution in an initial rhombohedral array of uniform spheres are studied. Very rapid decreases in permeability result from early deposition, with 48 percent reduction predicted in permeability from 8 percent reduction in porosity. After deposition has caused abo ut a 1 percent increase in the radii of the spherical array, relative permeability reductions vary approximately as the square oi relative c hanges in porosity. These theoretical results are matched with experim ental data of Itoi et al. and Moore et al. on deposition of silica. Sa tisfactory results are obtained in some cases, but for other cases a m ore complex model of the porous medium is needed.